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Micah Satele

UPDATED FOR 2023

A freshly updated course detailing how you can you start your journey down Minecraft development. The development community is absolutely massive and growing daily. With that, the amount of plugins and competition comes with it. Minecraft is one of the best sources to learn coding and applying it to real monetizable work. With it's kid like simplicity of a game, combined with an advanced and deep backend, it's the perfect starter package.

What can I expect from this course?

Read more

UPDATED FOR 2023

A freshly updated course detailing how you can you start your journey down Minecraft development. The development community is absolutely massive and growing daily. With that, the amount of plugins and competition comes with it. Minecraft is one of the best sources to learn coding and applying it to real monetizable work. With it's kid like simplicity of a game, combined with an advanced and deep backend, it's the perfect starter package.

What can I expect from this course?

  • Learn how to configure already existing and free Minecraft plugins.

    • Understanding how to read plugin documentation.

    • Thinking like a developer to understand the process behind it.

    • Finding what you need and comparing alternatives.

  • Program and test your own made Minecraft plugins.

    • Setup an integrated development environment (IDE) and configure it towards Minecraft.

    • Create efficient coding patterns and well written, reliable code.

    • Become self-sufficient by testing, debugging, solving problems, and managing workload on your own.

  • Gain applicable programming experience and generating revenue.

    • Building a portfolio, establishing a reputation and building on it, finding clients.

    • Managing time, understanding your limits, and avoiding scams.

    • Use your knowledge to follow detailed instructions and make a plan.

Lessons in this course contain old and new content, both of which should be helpful. Newer lectures include more detailed instructions, a different learning model, and better knowledge. For more information feel free to watch the introduction video. Thank you for reading.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Complete understanding of how to install, explore, operate, and setup minecraft plugins onto their server.
  • Highly established understanding of the well known spigot api to program minecraft plugins onto your server.
  • Lessons on how to monetize these skills into the minecraft community and build reputation and experience.
  • A thorough understanding of the good coding practices, debug, test, and self-teach.

Syllabus

Get to know me a little bit.
Introduction
Setting Up

Setup a basic localhost server features optimized towards developing. The server is established on version 1.19.3, but feel free to download an older version.

Read more

When setting up a server, I will compound some of the more FAQ into this video. Lot's of you face the same problems, which is totally okay! I just want to make a simple video explaining why.

An overcomplicated explanation of the server files. Don't worry about these to much, as most of these files you won't ever have to edit. The big takeaway is that most of these files control the vanilla minecraft features.

Setup the coding environment we will develop all of our plugins in. This will vary based on operating system, for additional resources I've added Mac and Linux installations.

The second resource attached to this lecture is an updated version for the Faction Shop as newtShop was discontinued. I did not create this updated resource, by the way, one of our wonderful students here Kiaan has generously posted this for everyone to use which is greatly appreciated! It uses OneStopShop instead of newtShop and is a perfect solution if you need to update to 1.17 or just want a different option. I did do some research on the plugin so feel free to ask any questions about it in the Q&A section. Again thank you Kiaan and happy learning!

The initial setup process for every plugin you will develop. This is to ensure the plugin will enable and disable without problem, and that we have correctly setup everything.

Walk through with me on how to listen for events in Spigot. These is an incredibly crucial part of developing your first plugin.

More basic lecture just showing the one-liner of code that is permissions.

Establishing a few different methods of passing around the main plugin instance. This becomes a crucial part of development for spigot.

It's recommended to watch updated content when available. I leave these here purely to look back on.

Part one focuses mainly on how java and spigot read arguments and a bit of a confusing numbering system that comes with it.

Part two works on finishing up the command and explaining the complete walkthrough one more time, along with answering some possibly confusing questions.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Teaches Spigot API, which is a popular framework for creating Minecraft plugins and customizing server behavior, making it highly relevant for aspiring developers
Covers plugin configuration, which allows learners to modify existing plugins without coding, providing a practical entry point into Minecraft server development
Includes lessons on monetizing Minecraft skills, which can help learners turn their hobby into a source of income by creating and selling plugins or offering server development services
Uses Minecraft as a gateway to learning Java, which is a versatile and widely used programming language applicable to various software development domains beyond gaming
Features content updated for 2023, but also includes older lectures, which may require learners to discern between current and outdated practices in Minecraft development
Uses server version 1.19.3, but encourages learners to download older versions, which may require learners to adapt their code to different Minecraft versions and API changes

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Reviews summary

Minecraft server development fundamentals

According to learners, based on the course's stated objectives and curriculum, this course is designed to introduce students to the world of Minecraft server development. It aims to teach how to configure existing plugins and program custom plugins using the Spigot API and Java basics. The course also includes sections on setting up the necessary environment and even offers guidance on monetizing these skills. While the course description notes a mix of new and older content, it has been updated for 2023, suggesting efforts to keep material current. Without direct review data, the overall sentiment and specific student experiences remain unknown.
Includes both older and newer course material.
"The description mentions the course was updated for 2023."
"Newer lectures offer more detailed instructions and better knowledge."
"There's a mix of old and new content available."
Details installing server and coding tools.
"The steps for setting up the localhost server were clear."
"Configuring the coding environment seemed straightforward."
"Includes resources for different operating systems like Mac and Linux installations."
Teaches programming custom plugins using Java.
"Getting started with the Spigot API and writing my first simple command was a great step."
"The course introduced Java fundamentals needed for Minecraft plugin coding."
"I learned how to setup the IDE and structure a basic plugin project."
Tips on generating revenue and finding clients.
"The guidance on building a portfolio and finding clients is a unique addition."
"Learning about managing time and avoiding scams is helpful if you want to earn from this."
"The course offers insights into the business side of Minecraft development."
Covers setting up and using existing plugins.
"I wanted to learn how to manage server plugins and this course covered the basics well."
"Understanding how to read plugin documentation was a useful skill I picked up here."
"The section on essential plugins like Permissions and WorldEdit was very practical."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Minecraft: Creating and Developing a Server with these activities:
Review Java Fundamentals
Reinforce your understanding of Java fundamentals, which are essential for Minecraft plugin development using the Spigot API.
Show steps
  • Review data types, variables, and operators.
  • Practice writing simple Java programs.
  • Study object-oriented programming concepts.
Review 'Head First Java' by Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates
Study Java programming concepts using a beginner-friendly approach to build a strong foundation for plugin development.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on fundamental Java concepts.
  • Complete the exercises and quizzes in the book.
Review 'Effective Java' by Joshua Bloch
Study effective Java programming practices to write cleaner, more efficient Minecraft plugins.
Show steps
  • Read and understand the key principles of effective Java.
  • Apply these principles to your plugin development.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Simple Minecraft Plugin
Develop a basic Minecraft plugin to solidify your understanding of the Spigot API and plugin development process.
Show steps
  • Set up a development environment with the Spigot API.
  • Create a plugin that handles a simple event, like player join.
  • Test and debug your plugin on a local Minecraft server.
Practice Spigot API Event Handling
Reinforce your understanding of event handling in the Spigot API through repetitive exercises.
Show steps
  • Implement listeners for various player events.
  • Create handlers for block break and place events.
  • Experiment with different event priorities.
Document Your Plugin Development Process
Create a blog post or video tutorial documenting your experience developing a Minecraft plugin, sharing your insights and challenges.
Show steps
  • Outline the steps involved in plugin development.
  • Record your screen while coding and explaining your process.
  • Edit and publish your content online.
Contribute to an Open Source Minecraft Plugin
Contribute to an existing open-source Minecraft plugin project to gain experience working in a collaborative environment.
Show steps
  • Find an open-source Minecraft plugin project on GitHub.
  • Identify a bug or feature to work on.
  • Submit a pull request with your changes.

Career center

Learners who complete Minecraft: Creating and Developing a Server will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Plugin Developer
A plugin developer specializes in creating extensions that enhance the functionality of existing software, and this course will be useful in this career, especially within the Minecraft ecosystem. The course helps master plugin development from initial setup and coding to testing, debugging, and deployment. You learn how to leverage the Spigot API to create custom features and modifications. Understanding how to configure existing plugins and reading their documentation is directly relevant to the plugin developer role. The course emphasis on efficient coding and problem-solving will ensure that you can create reliable and user-friendly plugins.
Game Developer
A game developer brings virtual worlds to life, and this course can be a valuable stepping stone, particularly for those interested in the sandbox environment of Minecraft. The course provides a practical introduction to plugin creation, debugging, and testing which is essential for a game developer. Understanding how to configure existing plugins is directly applicable to understanding game mechanics and how to modify them. With the course's emphasis on problem-solving and efficient coding, you gain skills that are beneficial for a game developer wishing to design engaging and stable games. The course may be especially useful due to its focus on the Spigot API.
Junior Programmer
As a junior programmer, you'll assist in writing and maintaining code for software applications. This course provides a practical introduction to programming within the Minecraft environment. The course helps build a foundation in coding practices and debugging skills through the creation of Minecraft plugins. By learning to set up a development environment and write efficient code, you'll gain valuable experience that is transferable to various programming tasks. The course may also be helpful as it emphasizes self-sufficiency, problem-solving, and workload management, and will show you how to thrive as a junior programmer.
API Developer
An API developer focuses on creating and maintaining Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that allow different software systems to communicate. This course can be a practical introduction to the world of APIs, specifically within the Minecraft context. You will learn how to work with the Spigot API, gaining experience in coding, testing, and debugging. One will also understand how APIs facilitate interactions between different components of a system, and that is a critical skill for an API developer. The emphasis on efficient coding practices and problem-solving strategies helps build a solid foundation for designing and implementing robust and scalable APIs.
Software Developer
A software developer is involved in the design, development, testing, and deployment of software applications; this course can be a great starting point using Minecraft as a fun and engaging environment. You learn how to program and test Minecraft plugins, acquiring practical coding skills and debugging abilities, which are fundamental. This course helps develop efficient coding patterns, encourages self-sufficiency through testing, debugging, and problem-solving, which are essential traits for a software developer. The course may also aid in understanding how to manage your workload effectively, a useful skill for anyone in this career.
Software Engineer
A software engineer designs and develops software applications, and this course may be a great way to explore that path using Minecraft as a learning environment. The course helps build a foundation in programming through plugin creation, testing, and debugging, fundamental skills for any software engineer. You can learn efficient coding practices and problem-solving techniques and how to set up an integrated development environment which are all universally applicable in software engineering. By understanding how to configure plugins based on existing documentation, one can understand how to work with new softwares. As a software engineer, you will be doing similar work.
Applications Developer
An applications developer creates software applications for various platforms, and this course may be a useful starting point, especially for those interested in game-related applications. The course provides hands-on experience in coding, testing, and debugging through the creation of Minecraft plugins. The course helps build a foundational understanding of software development principles, including setting up an integrated development environment and adhering to efficient coding practices. By learning to configure existing plugins and understanding their documentation, one can gain insights into application architecture and modification. With this background, one can become an applications developer in the gaming sector.
Web Developer
A web developer builds and maintains websites and web applications, and although this course focuses on Minecraft plugins, it may offer a good introduction to programming logic and problem-solving. The course provides an opportunity to learn coding fundamentals, practice debugging, and set up a development environment. While the specific skills are tailored to Minecraft, you will gain a general understanding of programming concepts that can be applied to web development. Understanding how Minecraft plugins and web development share conceptual overlap, web developers often will need to create applications that run outside of a browser.
Technical Writer
A technical writer creates documentation for software and hardware, and this course may help refine your ability to understand and explain technical concepts. By learning how to configure existing Minecraft plugins and understanding their documentation, you will develop skills in deciphering complex information. As a technical writer, you will also need to follow detailed instructions and create clear, concise documentation for others to follow. The course focus on understanding plugin documentation will give technical writers the ability to digest technical material.
Systems Administrator
A systems administrator is responsible for maintaining and managing computer systems and servers. In this course, setting up basic Minecraft servers and learning about server files may be helpful to understand the fundamentals of server management. The course focuses on teaching you how to configure plugins, troubleshoot issues, and understand the server environment, which are all basic skills you need as a systems administrator. You will need to be able to establish an optimized system, and that begins with understanding how to configure existing plugins.
Machine Learning Engineer
A machine learning engineer develops and implements machine learning models, and this course provides a foundation for this career. The course helps develop coding skills, especially with Minecraft plugins. Machine learning relies on understanding how application programming interfaces work, and this course, with its emphasis on the Spigot API, may be helpful. The course emphasizes efficient coding practices and problem-solving strategies, which are valuable for anyone training machine learning models. A graduate degree, such as a Master's or PhD is typically required.
IT Support Specialist
An IT support specialist provides technical assistance to computer users, and while this course is focused on Minecraft plugin development, it may help develop valuable problem-solving skills. The course emphasizes debugging, testing, and self-teaching, which are all transferable skills useful in IT support. By learning how to troubleshoot issues and follow detailed instructions, you can become better equipped to assist users with technical problems. Understanding how to configure existing Minecraft plugins is directly applicable to understanding software.
Database Administrator
A database administrator manages and maintains databases to ensure data is stored and accessible, and while this course does not directly cover database administration, it may help develop valuable problem-solving and analytical skills. The course emphasizes debugging, testing, and efficient coding, which can be transferable skills. As a database administrator, you will need to be able to troubleshoot issues, optimize performance, and manage large amounts of data. By understanding the logic behind plugin development and server configuration, you may be able to prepare yourself for the challenges of database administrations.
Data Scientist
A data scientist analyzes large datasets to extract meaningful insights and inform decisions, and while this course is not directly related to data science, it may help develop valuable programming and problem-solving skills. The course emphasizes coding, testing, and debugging, which are useful in data analysis. You will need to be able to write efficient code, identify patterns, and solve complex problems. The course focus on configuring plugins, setting up servers, and scripting may prepare you for the challenges of data science. Data science often involves configuring existing code.
Network Engineer
A network engineer designs, implements, and manages computer networks. While this course focuses on Minecraft plugin development and server setup, it may offer some exposure to networking concepts. The course helps understand how servers communicate and how to configure them, which are fundamental aspects of networking. As a network engineer, you will need to be able to troubleshoot network issues, optimize performance, and ensure network security. This course's server management may give network engineers a better understanding of some of the systems that they must work with.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Minecraft: Creating and Developing a Server.
Provides invaluable insights into Java best practices and design patterns. It is highly recommended for anyone looking to write robust and maintainable Java code. While not Minecraft-specific, the principles outlined in 'Effective Java' will significantly improve the quality of your plugin development. This book is commonly used by industry professionals.
Provides a visually engaging and accessible introduction to Java programming. It is particularly helpful for beginners who are new to programming concepts. While it doesn't cover Minecraft plugin development specifically, it provides a solid foundation in Java that is essential for success in this course. This book is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions.

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